Volker Panzer was born in 1947 in Schaffhausen/Saar. From 1968 to 1975 he studied sociology, German language and literature, political science, and pedagogy at Goethe University Frankfurt and at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. After working as an assistant at the teaching institute of the University of Mainz he worked as a freelance journalist for ZDF and several ARD stations (both German public-service television broadcasters). He has published numerous magazine articles and documentaries on topics from literature, art, science, architecture, and education. From March 1992 to April 1994 he was editor-in-chief of the German TV station "Kultur in Berlin" ("Culture in Berlin") and from June 1994 to June 1997 he was head of the ZDF editorial department "Kultur und Gesellschaft" ("Culture and Society") in Mainz. From 1997 to 2012 Volker Panzer was director and host of the "ZDF-nachtstudio" ("ZDF night studio").

Awards (selection):

• 1982 "Denkmalschutzpreis" for the documentary "Kein Schöner Land mehr".
• 1989 "Nelson Mandela Award" from African radio and television stations for the TERRA-X film "Sahara - ein verlorenes Paradies"
• 1989 Special Mention for "Sahara" at the Grimme Prize 1989

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